Postage-meter.



|. CLVWOODWARD.

POSTAGE METER. APPLICATION FILED DEC.I

l. C. WOODWARD.

POSTAGE METER.

APPLICATION FILED 050.1, 1913.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918. 4 SHEETSSHEET 2 fiw4 @uml 15th.

Nil

l. C. WOODWARD.

POSTAGE METER. APPLICATION FILED DEC.1

Patented Aug. 6, 191&

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 @901 c. WOYODWARD.

POSTAGE METER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-II I9I3.

'ED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

IRVING C. WOODWARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN POSTAGEMETER (30.,- A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

POSTAGE-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 1, 1913. Serial No. 804,103.

1' all whom it may concern:

Meters, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved detachableprinting and accounting device particularly adapted to print postage onmail matter, and so constructed that it may be set to effect a desiredpredetermined number of impressions and then automatically lock againstfurther op: eration while permitting the machine with which itcooperates to continue to operate for the purpose of performing otherwork than driving the detachable prlnting and accounting device; toprovide an improved de vice of this nature which requires the use of alock and key in order to be placed in condition for resetting so that itmay thereafter effect a new series of impressions, but which can not bemanipulated by the user or others,

not holding the required key to print a greater number than that towhich it was set by the authorized party; to provide a device of thisclass which is operative to effect impressions immediately upon beinginserted into its cooperating driving machine without requiring the useof a lock and, key by the user of the device; to provide improvedmechanism under the control of the detachable device for preventing theoperation of a clutch, by which it is connected in driving relation withits cooperating machine, when the detachable printing devicehas effecteda predetermined number of impressions; and to provide an arrangement ofmechanism whereby the protectin housing which prevents access to theresett ng mechanism may be a compact unitary structure and need occupybut little more space than the contained mechanism. 1

An illustrative embodiment of the above invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure l is a plan view of a mail marking machine adapted for receivingand operatingthe detachable printing and accounting Fig. 4 is anelevation of an electrotype adapted to be secured to the detachabledev1ce.

Fig. 5 shows in vertical section the detachable device and cooperatingclutch mechamsm.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of mechanism in the detachable deviceadapted to prevent the operation of the'clutch when the detachabledevice has effected the predetermined number of impressions for which itis set.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the detachable device.

' Fig. 8 is a lan view. of a locking plunger controlling p ate,

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan View of the detachable device.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional detail of the detachable device andshows a locking pawl by which numbering wheels in the device aretemporarily locked while the device is efi'ecting an impression and-while the printing wheels are being inked.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a gear adapted to support the detachabledevice.

filed Sept. 19, 1912, mail marking machines and postage meters, and isadapted to be driven by an operating mechanism similar to that describedin said copending application and also in the patent to Arthur H.Pitney, No. 753,207, mail marking machines.

The machine with which the detachable device cooperates is shown injFig.1 of the drawings and comprises a suitablesupporting stand 1, a bedplate 2 beneath which are mounted a plurality of. gears, not shown, fordriving rotating shafts of the machine,- and in turn receiving motionfrom a belt driven pulley 3. The specific arrangement of gears anddriving mechanism is shown in the beforementioned patent. These gearsare arranged to drive feed rollers 4 to 15 inclusivefor the purpose ofsuccessively feeding mail matter in single pieces from the receivingPatented Aug. 6, 1918. l

' machine.

lever 26 pivoted by pins 27 to a sleeve 28.

surrounding shaft 21 and integral with a circular plate 29' to whichgearis secured. Lever 26 also carries pins 30 passing through slots 31 insleeve 28 and into bearings drilled into a hub 32 rigid with the member24 of the clutch and surrounding shaft 21 inside of sleeve 28. Byrocking lever 26 on its pivots 27, the clutch member 24 may through pins30 be engaged with or disengaged from the clutch member 22. The specificclutch herein described and its operating mechanism is the subjectmatter of applicants copending application for Patent No. 804,101 filedDecember-1, 1913. e

The detachable printing and accounting device comprises a supportingshaft 33 and a cylindrical housing or casing 34 normally locked againstrotation relatively of shaft 33 by a lock shown in Fig. 3, and having aslidable bolt 35 adapted to enter a hole' 36 in shaft 33. Shaft 33 isalso provided with a key 37 which by entering notches 38, Fig. 1, inframe 39 prevents rotation of shaft 33 and the housing 34 when thedetachable device is Journaled on shaft 33 are a pair of disks 40 and41having hubs 42 and 43 surrounding the shaft and connected together bya cylindrical casing44. The printing mechanism is contained withincasing 44 and is supported on a frame 45 secured to disk 41. litigidlymounted in this frame is a cylinder 46 on which are loosely j ournaled aplurality of type wheels 48. The cylinder is provided with a pluralityof notches 50 in which are pivoted spring-pressed retaining pawls 52 forthe type wheels. The cylinder 46 is also cut away at 49 to provide spacefor an. os-

cillating actuating pawl for the type wheels. 2

The actuating and retaining pawls coiiperate with notches 59 in the typewheels.

lPawl 51 is secured to, a shaft 47 journaled within the cylinder 46 andcarrying fast at one end an arm 53 having a pivotal connec tion 54 witha link 55. The latter carries at its upper end a roller 56 resting inthe; race 57 of cam 58 fixed to the non-rotating shaft 33. Roller 56 isguided in its vertical movement by a fixedgrooved guide 56.1. a 5

With the above arrangement, when the printing device comprising disks 40and 41,

the casin 44 and contained mechanism is rotated wlthin housing 34, shaft47 is oscilmanner.

inserted in its driving 'lated once for each rotation of said unit. Theoscillation of shaft 47 causes pawl 51 and is thereby permittedon itsnext oscillation toactuate both this type wheel and the type wheel ofnext higher order, efiect ing the desired transfer in a well known litis preferable to operate the numbering wheels in a subtracting directionso that they may be setto represent a certain.

number and then turned toward their zero positions by a step by stepmovement until all wheels arrive at such zero positions when they areautomatically locked against further operation until reset in the mannerprovided for. The cylindrical housing 34 is provided with openings 60and 61 through which the type wheels extend when respectively in theprinting and inking positions. The casing is for this reason eccentricto shaft 33 so that in the rotation of the printing drum within thecasing, the type wheels will normally be wholly within the drum exceptwhen efiecting impressions or being inked. To provide againstmanipulation of the type wheels when invthe-openings 60 or 61, a pawl 62is pivoted by a pin 63 in frame 45 and has a plurality of prongs 64 forengagement with notched disks 65 rigid with the type wheel's. The pawlalso has a shoulder 66 for coiiperating with a fixed cam 67 rigid onshaft 33. While the type wheels are passing the openings760 and 61, cam67 serves to hold the pawl 62 into engagement with the disks 65 and inthis manner prevents rotation of the type wheels but the latter are freeto rotate when not in the printing or inking positions during the timethat cam 58 actuates the pawl 51. Cam 67, for the above purpose, has acut awaypart 68. When said cut away part is opposite the "shoulder 66 onpawl; 62, spring 69' extended 1 between the rear end of pawl 62 and across bar 70 in frame 45 serves to hold the pawl disengaged from thenotched disks 65.

One notch 65.1 in each'of the disks 65 is suitably formed for coperatingwith a lock- 71 is inefl'ective whenever at least one of the type wheelsis not in the zero position because then one of the prongs 73 would reston the periphery of the t pe wheel and pre vent the other prongs 73 fromengaging notches 65.1., The rear end 74 of pawl 71 extends through an oening 75 in a cam arm 76 pivoted by a pin 7 to said cross bar 70'. Thearm 76 is fast on pin 77 and passing through said pin is a lever 78which also passes through short slots 79 in locking bolts or plungers 80and 81 slidably mounted in ears 82 and 83 of frame 45. A spring 84 iscoiled around plunger 80 and is compressed between a collar 85 fixed tothe plunger and ear 82 of frame 45. urges plunger 80 upward and throughlever 78 urges plunger 81 in a downward direction and the arm 76 to rocktoward the left, Fig. 6. Such movement of th plungers and arm 76 is,however, normally prevented by a shoulder 86 on arm 76 engaging the rearend 74 of pawl 71. When the pawl 71 under the action of its springs 87enters the deep notches in disks 65 of the type wheels, its rear endclears the shoulder 86 permitting spring 84 to act and thereby forcingplunger 80 upward so that its upper end passes through an opening 88 ina disk 89 rigid with the fixed cam 67, locking the printing drum againstfurther rotation. The upward movement of the lunger 80 rocks lever 78and its pivot pin 7 thereby causing plunger 81 to lower slightly withits lower end pro jecting through a hole 90 in disk 41. As arm 76 isrigid with pin 77, it also rocks to the left, Fig. 6, from its pivotalconnection with cross bar 70, coming to rest with its shoulder 86 abovethe rear end of pawl 71 and its bottom edge 91 above an opening 92 indisk 41. The shoulder 86, when the arm 76 is in its moved position,serves to posi tively hold pawl 71 in position to lock the type wheelswhile the lower edge. 91 of arm 76 prevents a pluiiger 93, pivoted by apin Men the clutch lever 26, from moving upwardly when clutchlever 26attempts to rock into the clutching position. Arm 76 has a cut away part95 which, when the arm isin its normal position, is above the opening 92and permits plunger 93 to move upwardly its full'stroke, and notinterfere with the clutching operation of lever 26. v

The locking pawl 71 may be restored to its normal position out ofengagement with disks 65 by. pushinginwardly on the end 96 of plunger 81when the detachable device is removed from the machine. By thusrestoring the pawl 71, it is possible to reset the printing wheels 48 toposition for printing a new series of stamps, but-the arrangement issuch that the pawl 71' can not be restored to normal position except byforcing plunger 81 upward far enough to cause it to enter the cut awaypart 97 of the fixed disk 89. The lower edge of slot 75 in the arm 76 iscurved as shown in Fig. 6 and when The spring normally plunger 81 ispushed upwardly far enough to rock arm 76. to its extreme righthandpositlon, the engagement of the curved edge of slot 75 on the rear endofpawl 71 serves to entirely disengage the pawl from the notches in disks65. In order to retain pawl 71 in its disengaged position, it isnecessary to set at least one of the type wheels 48 away from its zeroposition so that the deep notch in a disk 65 is not opposite the prongs73 of the pawl. The pawl may then come to rest on the periphery of adisk 65 permitting rotation' of all the type wheels. Normally whenplungers 80 and 81 register with the cut away parts 88 and 97 of disk89, the print- 1ng wheels 48 are not at either the printing opening 60or the opening 61 through which the type wheels are inked. For thisreason,

it is necessary, before the type wheels may be reset, to unlock thehousing 34 from shaft 33 by withdrawing bolt 35 from the hole 36 in theshaft, and then to rotate the housing 34 on the shaft until opening 60is opposite the type wheels.v When the parts of the mechanism are insuch relation, it is possible to force plunger 81 upwardly its fullstroke so that its upper end enters notch 97 and arm 76 is rocked farenough to the right, Fig. 6,-to cam pawl 71 out of engagement with thedeep notches in disks 65. The printing wheels 48 may then be freelyrotated to the desired positions to represent the number of impressionsit is desired to have the device perform before again be comingautomatically locked.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that it is essential to employ one ofthe keys 98 for releasing housing 34 from shaft 33 before the typewheels may be reset. When the type wheels are in their normal positionexposed through the opening 60, it is im-% possible to rotate them ascam 67 holds locking pawl ,62 in en agement with the notches in disks65. Sha 33 carries a pin 99 in position to cooperate with shoulders 100on a boss 101 of housing 34 and limit the relative .movement betweencasing 34 and shaft 33. Tim: relative movement permitted is such as isrequired to turn housing 34 far enough to bring the opening 60 oppositethe type wheels when the latter are in such position that the ,plungers80 and 81' register with the cut away parts 88 and 97 of disk 89. Acounting device 102 is mounted within housing 34 and may be read throughthe sight opening 103 in the casing. It is provided with a beveled gear104 meshing with Journa-led on boss 42 is an idle roller 106 whichcovers the operating mechanism and which protrudes sli htly throughopening for the purpose 0% coperating with feed roller 13, Fig. 1, infeeding mail matter through the machine.

For the purpose of preventing bent edges of envelops passing through themachine from engaging the edges of opening 60 in cylinder 34: guidewires 107, Fig. 12, are extended across said opening.

An electrotype 108 provided with an opening 109 through which the typewheels pro trude is secured to the casing 44 of the printing device.Appropriate lettering,

such as the denomination of the stamp, thename of the post-oflice, andthe permitnumber may be placed upon this electrotype.

The operation of the device requires that the type wheels-first be setfor the purpose of making some predetermined number of impressions. Thismay be accomplished by a postoflice ofiicialhaving one of the keys 98,Fig. 3. By unlocking housing 34: from shaft 33, it may be rotated toexpose the type wheels through opening 60, when the type wheels are intheir normal position with plungers 80 and 81 registering with cut awayparts 88 and 97 ofqdisk 89 fast to shaft 33. When the type wheels are inthis position, locking pawl 6 is disengaged, its

shoulder 66 resting within the cut away part 68 ofcam 67, Fig. 5. Pawl71 may also be disengaged from the deep notches in disks by forcingplunger 81 upwardly, thereby rocking lever 78, Fig. 6, .in a left handdirection around its pivot in cross bar 70. Arm 76 is carried with thelever in its rocking movement and the lower curved edge of the. slot inthe arm engages the rear end 74 of pawl 71 disengaging the latter fromthe notched disks 65. The wheels may now be rotated to represent anydesired number and are temporarily retained in their set qpositions byretaining pawls 50, Fig. 5. a he housing 34 is then restored to itsnormal relation with shaft 33 and the printing and accounting mechanism,and is locked in said,

position.

The device may now be inserted in one of the mail marking machines shownin Fig ,-l. This machine is provided with means under the control ofmail matter passing therethrough for operating the clutch member 24,Fig. 5, to engage it with the driven clutch member 23 on drive shaft 21.When so engaged, the printing unit and its inclosing cylinder 44 arerotated, the clutch being arranged to automatically release the printingunit at the end of each rotation, the latter being stopped in its normalposition by a fixed stop cooperating with clutch lever 26, as explainedin applicants said copending application for patent. The rotation of theprinting and accounting unit on shaft 33- causes fect the impressionwhile passlng opening 60 in contact with mail matter between the typewheels and the feed and impression roller 13. Further rotation of theprinting mechanism causes roller 56, Fig. 2, to pass along the operatingportion of race 57 in cam 58. By this means, arm 53 is oscillatedcausing pawl 51 to engage one of the notches 59 in the type wheel oflowest order rotating said wheel in a backward direction one unit ofmovement. The printing device is now inoondition for efiecting a secondimpression but the number of the second stamp printed will be one unitless than the first stamp printed, the operation continuing in the samemanner until all of the type wheels arrive at their zeroposition whenthey become automatically locked by reason of the multi-pronged pawl 71engagin. all of the deep notches in the disks 65. T be seen occurs asthe printing drumapproaches its stopped position after printing theimpression bearing the number 1. Such movement of the pawl releases arm76 as the rear end of the pawl clears the shoulder 86 on said arm.Spring 84 now forces plunger 8O upwardly rocking lever 78 so as to carryarm 76 toward theleft, Fig. 6, and plunger 81 downward. When plunger isin its upper position, it extends through the cut away part 88 in disk89 fixed to shaft 33 and thereby prevents accidental rotation of theprinting unit with respect to said shaft. The clutch is also disabled bythelower end 91 of arm 76 coming above the his it will opening 92 indisk 41 and thereby preventing plunger 93 carried by the clutch operatmglever 26 from entering said opening. By

this =means the clutch is disabled, clutch is lockedagainst operationuntil the type wheels are reset as when plunger 81 is moved upwardly farenough to disengage locking pawl 71 itengages disk 89 at cut away part97 preventing operation of the printing mechanism until released.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:. v 1. A device of the class described, comprising a' rotatablemember, accounting mechanism supported thereon, a casing surroundingsaid accounting mechanism and i ,nism, said mechanism must be reset aspre- .vlously described. The printingmechanism "ment of said casing whenin unlocked condition. 4

2. A device of the class described, comprising a normally stationarymember, a

printing mechanism rotatably mounted With respect to said member andincluding a lurality of type carriers, a casing surroun ing saidprinting mechanism in locked relation with said member, said casinghaving an opening therein, locking means for the type carriers arrangedto permit adjustment of the latter when not exposed through saidopening, and means for releasing said casing from said stationary memberwhereby the casing may be rotated with respect to said stationary memberto expose the type car-' riers when in adjustable condition.

3. A detachable device of the class de-' scribed, comprising "a normallystationary member, a printing mechanism rotatably mounted with respectto, said member and including a plurality of type carriers, a

housing surrounding said printing mechanism in locked relation with saidmember,

said housing having an opening therein,-

locking means for the type carriers arranged to permit adjustment of thelatter when not exposed through said opening, and means for releasingsaid housing from vsaid stationary member whereby the housing may berotated with respect to said stationary mm her to expose the typecarriers wheninadjustable condition, in combination with mechanism forrotating said printing mechtatable printing mechanism, a stationarymember having shoulders, a locking and a releasingplunger' slidablymounted on said -printing mechanism, means whereby said locking, plungepis projected into engaging relation with a shoulder of said stationarymember to lock the printing mechanism after a predetermined number ofimpressions have been made, said releasing plunger ;being adapted to bemanually shifted and connected to said locking'plunger to restore thesame to normal position, and means.

whereby the locking plunger cannot-be effectively restored except byprojecting said releasing plunger into engaging relation with a shoulderof'sa-id fixed member. a

' 5. In a device of the classdescribed, a ro-v tatable printingmechanism-including a plurality of adjustable type carriers, means forlocking said type carriers against, adjustment after a predeterminednumber of im- .of the printing mechanism during resetting pressions, astationary member, a locking and a releasing plunger slidably mounted onsaid printing mechanism, means whereby said locking plunger is caused tocooperate with said stationary member to disable the printingmechanismwhen the type carriers are locked, said releasing plunger beingadapted to restore said locking plunger and said means for locking thetype carriers.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable printing mechanismincluding a plurality of adjustable type carriers, means for lockingsaid type carriers against adjustment after a predeterminednumber ofimpressions, a supporting frame for the printing mechanism, a plungerslidably mounted on said printing mechanism, a lever pivoted on saidsupporting frame and having a pivotal connection With said plunger, acam arm rigid with said lever adapted to restore to normal position saidmeans for locking the type carriers, said plunger cobperating with saidsupporting frame to prevent or permit operation of the printingmechanism arm.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatable printingmechanisniin'cluding' a plurality of adjustable type carriers, means forlocking said type carriers against adjustment after a predeterminednumber of impressions, and means operative to release the type carriersfor the purpose of permitting H resetting thereof, said last mentionedmeans having connections for preventing operation operations of the typecarriers.

8. A printing device comprising a sup porting shaft, a plurality ofnumbering wheels, acasing surrounding said-numbering wheels and havingan opening therein through which said numbering wheels may be exposed toeffect impressions, operating devices for the numbering wheels, meanswhereby said operatingdevices are actuated during a relative rotationbetween said shaft and the numbering wheels as a body, means foreffecting such relative rotation, devices for locking said numberingwheels when ex-' posed through said opening and releas ing the wheelswhen, inaccessible in sald casm and a lock: for saidcasing to normallypreive'nt exposure of the type wheels when re-' leased from said lockingdevices.

' 9. The combination of a rotary member having an "opening in one side,a series of numbering wheels mounted in said opening, mechanism foroperating said numbering wheels through the rotation of said member, ahousing surrounding said member-[ and having therein an opening'adaptedto register with the opening in said member when said housing and memberoccupy certain angular positions, means normally in accessible from theoutside of said housing I tatably mounted on said supportingmemshiftedwhen said first named. locking means adapted to lock said numberingwheels against operationiwhen said openings are in registration, andsaid housing being cona trolled by a keyfor permitting the release ofsaid locking means when said openings "are in registering positions.

respect to said shaft and adapted to lock said number-in wheels .againstoperation when said openings are in registration, and to release saidwheels during the operation ofsaid operating mechanism,-said housing andshaft being adapted to be relatively' are released whereby-said openingsmay be brought into registration when said num boring wheels 'are namedis:

11. In a machine of the class described, a printing} device, comprisinga supporting member, an adjustable numbering device rober, a housingsurrounding said numbering device and rotatably mounted on saidsupporting member,an opening insaid housing for exposing saidnumberirfig device during rotation "thereof, locking eans for saidnumbering device arrangedto releasev the numbering device when notexposed through said ram; and a key controlled lock for normallypreventing rotation of saidliiousber whereby a key isrequired' torelease said ing with root to-said Supporting memhousing for the purpose.ofro'tating the same to expose the numbering device through the openingthereof when the num boring device is to be adjusted.- j l2. lln amachine of the class described, a printing device, comprising asupporting member, an adjustable numbering device rotatably mounted onsaid supporting memher, a housing surrounding said numbering deviceandrotatably mounted on said supporting member, an opening insaidhousing for exposing said numberingdevice dur mg rotationthereofl'locking means for said numbering device arranged to release thenumbering device when not exposed through said opening, a key controlledlock for normally preventing rotation of I said housing.

argest with respect to said supporting member whereby a key is requiredto release said housing for the purpose of rotating the same to exposethe numbering device through the opening thereof when the num' boringdevice is to be adjusted, and I a counter inclosed Within saidhousingarranged to count therotations of the numbering devices withrespect to said support- 7 ing member.

13.111 a postage meter, the combination of a printing drum having anopening in one side, numbering wheels mounted therein and exposedthroughsaid opening, a housing surrounding said printing drum and having anopening therein adapted to register with the opening in said printingdrum when said drum and housing are in certainrelative angularpositions, amember in said printing'drum, ,a lock for normally securingsaid member and housing in'fixed relation to each other, locking meanscontrolled by said member for. normally lock-l ing said numberingwheelsagainst operation when exposed through the opening in said housing, alocking pawl mounted in said drum and controlled; by said numbermgwheels for automatically locking said drum against rotation-relativeto-said mom ber, mechanism adapted to be actuated from the outside ofsaid drum for restoring said pawl and. simultaneously retracting .said

locking element said mechanism including a second element adapted tolocksaid drum and member against relative rotation 'dur ing the act ofrestoring said pawl, and

thereby preventingfthe efi'ective restoring of said pawl except whensaid member and housingare unlocked to permit said numtoo boring wheelsto be operated. when exposed through said opening.

14:. In a device of the class. described, a. rotatable printingmechanism including a plurality of adjustable. type carriers, means forlocking. said type carriers against adjustment after a predeterminednumber of impressions, means operative to releasethe :type carriersforthe purpose ofpermittinlgresetting thereof, said last mentioned: meanshaving "connections for preventing opera.

tion of the printing mechanism during reare setting operations-entire.type carriers, and

means for countingthe operation's' o f said n5,

P g mechanism;

Signed a i ago thiseo p a 1 am vember,-1913,.

Witnesses: 1-

EUGENE A. Remnant, I M, llnnnn Hiorcnrnes.

ravine

